WGSN, the global leader in trend forecasting, has acquired IWSR, the premier provider of data, analytics, and insights for the beverage alcohol industry, from Bowmark Capital. The transaction, finalized in June 2025, was supported by Apax Partners, which acquired WGSN in January 2024. This move strengthens WGSN’s strategy to expand its AI, data analytics, and trend forecasting capabilities across consumer industries, building on its Food & Drink platform launched in 2020.
The acquisition combines WGSN’s expertise in consumer trend forecasting with IWSR’s 50 years of in-depth data and market insights, covering over 160 countries and serving more than 250 clients in the $1.2 trillion global alcohol industry. Carla Buzasi, CEO of WGSN, highlighted the transformative potential of merging IWSR’s data with WGSN’s proven forecasting methodology, creating a powerful tool for the food and beverage sector. Julie Harris, CEO of IWSR, noted that this partnership marks an exciting phase, enhancing client experiences by blending IWSR’s proprietary analytics with WGSN’s global trend leadership.
Since 2021, Bowmark Capital supported IWSR’s growth, tripling its revenue and profits through investments in technology and product innovation. Fiona McCormick, partner at Bowmark, stated that IWSR is now well-positioned to leverage WGSN’s scale and expertise to deliver greater value to its customers. Mark Sykes, Principal at Apax, emphasized the strong synergies between the two companies, noting that the acquisition enhances WGSN’s offerings and creates significant value for clients of both organizations.
This strategic move is set to redefine data-driven decision-making in the beverage alcohol industry, offering clients a comprehensive solution for market strategy, product development, and consumer behavior forecasting.
